The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is implementing major updates to the car driving test booking system in 2026 to crack down on bots, third-party cancellation apps, and the reselling of test slots at inflated prices.
Here are the complete details of the new rules and how they affect learners and instructors:
1. Learners Must Manage Their Own Bookings (Since 12 May 2026)
- No Third-Party Booking: It is now against the law for anyone other than the learner to book, change, swap, or cancel a car driving test. This ban includes driving instructors, driving schools, and unofficial cancellation services.
- Direct Control: Learners must book their own tests via the GOV.UK system using their provisional licence. They are required to provide an email address and complete a self-declaration agreeing to the terms and conditions.
- Existing Bookings: Any tests booked by instructors prior to 12 May remain valid, but instructors must hand over the booking reference numbers so pupils can manage the appointments themselves going forward.
2. The "Two-Strike" Limit on Changes (Since 31 March 2026)
- Reduced Allowance: The DVSA has cut the number of permitted changes per test booking from six down to just two.
- What Counts as a Change: Altering the date or time, moving to a different test centre, or swapping the appointment with another learner all consume one of your two allowed changes.
- What Does Not Count: Updating your contact details or adding/removing your instructor's reference number does not use up a change. If the DVSA has to cancel or reschedule your test (for example, due to bad weather), you are not penalized and your two-change limit is reset.
- Exceeding the Limit: If a learner needs a third change, they must cancel the test entirely and book a new one. A full refund is provided if the cancellation is made with at least 10 full working days' notice.
3. Strict Limits on Moving Test Centres (From 9 June 2026)
- Location Restrictions: To prevent learners from speculatively booking tests in quieter regions just to secure a slot, the DVSA is restricting where a test can be moved.
- From 9 June 2026, if you wish to change your test location, you will only be permitted to move it to one of the three nearest test centres relative to your original booking.
How Instructors Can Still Manage Their Diaries
While instructors can no longer act as booking agents, the DVSA system provides tools to protect their schedules:
- Availability Settings: Instructors can log into the system to set their exact working hours, buffer times needed between tests, and specific days off (like holidays).
- ADI Integration: When a pupil books a test, they enter their instructor's Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) personal reference number. The booking system will then automatically filter the available test slots so the learner only sees appointments that match the instructor's availability.
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